Phylogeography and Population Genetics of the Central American Howler Monkeys (Genus Alouatta)

这个研究项目研究了一群新大陆灵长类动物的进化遗传学。这项研究的目标包括重建古代吼猴入侵中美洲的过程，作为次要目标，对一个被充分研究过的披风吼猴种群的社会结构进行遗传分析。这些目标将通过使用我们专门为这些物种开发的DNA指纹技术，分别比较成对的种群和成对的个体之间的遗传相似性来实现。这项研究将从两个方面显著增强我们对灵长类动物进化的理解。首先，我们将为中美洲灵长类动物的总体种群遗传学提供一个初步模型，从而与来自非洲和亚洲的已知灵长类动物系统进行有用的对比。第二，本研究所获得的关于新世界灵长类动物遗传学的信息将为今后该类群的生态学和进化研究奠定基础。

This research project examines the evolutionary genetics of a group of New World primates. The goals of the study include a reconstruction of the ancient invasion of Central America by howler monkeys and, as a secondary objective, a genetic analysis of social structure in a well-studied population of mantled howlers. These objectives will be accomplished by comparing the genetic similarities between pairs of populations and pairs of individuals, respectively, using a DNA fingerprinting technology we developed specifically for these species. This study will significantly augment our understanding of primate evolution in two ways. First, we will provide a preliminary model for the population genetics of Central American primates in general, thus, providing a useful contrast with better known primate systems from Africa and Asia. Second, the information generated by this study about New World primate genetics will provide basic information that can lay the foundation for future ecological and evolutionary studies in this group.